CONTACTS
Canonica a Cerreto
Località Canonica a Cerreto
53019 Castelnuovo Berardenga (Siena)
VAT: IT00784720526
E-mail: info@canonicacerreto.it
Tel: +39 0577 363 261
Canonica a Cerreto
THE HISTORY
Around the year 1000 A.D , the canons of Siena’s cathedral decided to construct a new abbey not too far from the city. The abbey was to be located on a panoramic hillside in the middle of a forest filled with “cerri” – turkey oak trees – and it was here that Canonica a Cerreto was built. The word “Cerreto” derives from this particular kind of tree, quercus cerris.
1400 A.D.
Located on the old border between the former republics of Siena and Florence, the monastery witnessed years of fierce fighting between the two rivals including the historic Battle of Monteaperti, described by Italy’s most famous poet, Dante Alighieri. In 1400 A.D., Canonica a Cerreto was bought by a noble family from Cerretani, who renovated the villa according to the popular Renaissance style of the time.
1700 A.D.
In 1700 A.D., it returned to Siena’s clergy, who converted it into a summer villa for the bishop. The interior of the villa’s chapel was refashioned to a style more appropriate for the age, and its rooms frescoed by Sienese painters. More than 300 years later, Canonica a Cerreto returned to private ownership.
The territory
IN THE HEART OF CHIANTI
Canonica a Cerreto lies in the heart of the Chianti hills, 12 km east of Siena. The property’s 60 hectares include 21 hectares of vineyard and 7 of olive groves; the rest of the land is woods. Chianti wine and olive oil have been produced here for centuries.
Our wines
AIM TO IMPROVE QUALITY
Canonica a Cerreto produces 150,000 bottles per year. Chianti Classico both Regular and Reserve accounts for 80% of the production. The balance is a Tuscan IGT called “Sandiavolo”. The regular Chianti Classico is made by Sangiovese grapes and Merlot; the Chianti Classico Riserva is Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The Sandiavolo is a blend in equal parts of all three grapes.
Naturally, Sangiovese is our mainstay variety. However, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are very well suited to the terroir of Canonica a Cerreto, allowing them to express character in ways which are not very common for these ubiquitous international varieties. In other words, our Cabernet and Merlot are wonderfully complementary to our Sangiovese, contributing to the structure and balance of our wines, which remain typical of our terroir while at the same time satisfying the changing tastes of consumers.
Our primary objective is quality, for which we have been recognized numerous times both at home and internationally.
Keep in touch
E-MAIL: info@canonicacerreto.it